In memory of Carole Westwick

Carole initially studied English and Drama before completing her psychology degree at Reading University, qualifying as an Educational Psychologist at Swansea in 1972. She is remembered by her fellow trainees as having an invariably positive approach and as being ‘all heart’.

Carole’s entire professional life was in Hertfordshire. She made an immediate impression on arrival with her outgoing personality and confidence and was described as breezing in ‘like a goddess, with her masses of auburn hair’.

Carole was highly regarded by colleagues, clients and schools and was an outspoken ambassador and real asset to the Hertfordshire Psychology Service. Her attitude to work was always driven by her deep compassion and concern for children and young people and their families and her very strong sense of social justice and fairness. She was intelligent and perceptive, with a keen insight into human nature. Carole was a powerful communicator in all aspects of her work. She advocated powerfully for some of the most vulnerable children and never lost her indignation about the inequalities affecting children’s lives. Whilst the vulnerable aroused her sympathy, she could be strong in her condemnation of those who exploited or abused positions of power.

Carole assessed the needs of children with warmth and empathy. She explored and developed various methods of allowing children and young people to express complex thoughts and emotions so that they could make better and more positive sense of their predicaments.

She always fought for what she felt children and young people needed, having the gift of challenging without offending. Moreover, she had the tenacity and warm persuasiveness to ensure that others worked with her to meet their needs in the way she saw fit. In difficult professional meetings, with calmness, a slight tilt of the chin, but usually with a twinkle in her eye, she would obtain the best outcomes for every child.

She was a rock for the leaders and pastoral support colleagues in the schools within which she worked as she was measured and wise and had the gift for making everyone feel heard, because she listened- really listened. In an era where EPs were encouraged to be ‘experts’ with their own ego at the centre, Carole was a role model for someone who put the needs of colleagues and clients first and foremost.

Carole’s background in drama was self-evident in any presentations and training she gave. She was always well-prepared, but her delivery was spontaneous and relaxed, and she held the audience in the palm of her hand. She facilitated experiential exercises that empowered the participants to believe in their own skills and to take risks exploring their own feelings, by encouraging them to walk in the shoes of the children.

Carole had a particular interest in working with children and young people having social, emotional, and mental health needs, so she was the perfect person to lead the first multi-disciplinary behaviour support team in Hertfordshire. With colleagues she also delivered child protection training to heads and designated teachers across the county, and she is remembered for her consummate professional skills when dealing with very difficult and often emotional topics.

Carole’s colleagues found her a source of great support and wise advice and she was a role model to so many of them. This was one of her outstanding characteristics. She was always interested in what other colleagues were doing and perhaps this kept her interested in her work for so long. Carole was proud of her professional status and responsibilities and had an ability to challenge systems where necessary. She was political in terms of her thinking about society and our profession. There were multiple challenges in the structure of the EPS over the decades and Carole was vocal in her belief that we should be managed by educational psychologists as other professionals would not understand the breadth, depth, and challenges of our work.

Carole always retained an interest in what was happening in the world of educational psychology. After retirement from local authority work. Carole worked in private practice in a range of provisions. She built a longstanding relationship with a residential placement for young male offenders and became passionate about the impact of poor language and literacy skills on their life chances. Carole also developed a specialism in enabling students with specific learning difficulties to have the best opportunities to fulfil their academic ambitions at university. Many of these young people wrote to thank Carole years later for her advice, support, and encouragement. She was always incredibly touched by this.

Carole was part of a peer support group throughout this later phase of her working life. She was eventually forced to stop working directly with clients due to her Mesothelioma, but she never gave up work. She still attended the peer support group meetings and generously continued to listen, share her wisdom and perspective and encourage and praise our work. Her passion for making lives better for children never left her. During these “retirement years”, Carole wrote a children’s book, “Time Tree.” It is a joyous reminder of her wonderful imagination, sense of fun and understanding of children.

As a friend she was loyal, supportive, generous and great fun. During the last few years of her life she showed an impressive determination not only to live but to live well and to enjoy life’s pleasures. Her great love for her family motivated and sustained her during her medical treatment.

Lively discussions were often held about her interests in film, books, theatre, music, politics, travel, her family and her dogs. These discussions were often had whilst sharing food and drink in lovely settings. If you were lucky enough to be invited for afternoon tea, it was always ‘done properly’, served on fine bone China plates and with antique drinking glasses.

In at typically selfless request, towards the end of her life, Carole asked that her professional bodies support those who are trying to remove asbestos from school buildings, to avoid the risk of anyone else developing Mesothelioma.

Carole’s empathy, humility and impact will live on in the memories and experiences of all who knew her. Carole leaves her three sons, whom she adored, and their families. She will be profoundly missed by all those who knew her.